>> live and in hd, this is abc 7 news at 6:30 p.m., on your side. >> we are on at storm watch tonight. we could have severe hail in our area. we have at the very latest on these developing storms. >> it is an ever-changing situation. just about half an hour ago we had a tornado warning that has now been cancelled. you can see the clouds are really beginning to build. this system is going to break into thunderstorms for most of

the area into the evening hours. let's look at the live doppler radar to see the latest. there is a severe thunderstorm warning for another 30 minutes until 7:00. these storms are moving east at about 25 mi. per hour. the areas shaded in yellow indicate a thunderstorm watch until 11:00 tonight. winds could be up to 40 or 50 mi. per hour in these areas. there will be like to heavy downpours. we will keep you updated with any information as we get it. coming up, we do have better weather on the way, i promise. >> in mississippi, people are cleaning up the damage left by tornadoes in there. the powerful storm ripped through hamas and toward trees from the ground.

we go to -- ripped through homes and tore trees from the ground. we go to a city that was hit the hardest. >> as many as four tornadoes swept through the south on saturday, hitting 10 states. in mississippi, rescuers continuing to look for victims in outlying areas. homes, businesses and in tired -- and entire subdivisions were destroyed. mississippi governor haley barbour grew up in the yazoo city area and still keeps a home nearby. >> [unintelligible] >> overnight, there were reports of looting in the disaster

areas. the emergency also brought out the best in many other people. >> here are more details on those powerful storms. the governor of mississippi declared a state of emergency in more than a dozen counties. the national guard has been ordered to help with the response. the tornado has severely damaged at least 100 homes. there are likely areas that it has not yet reached. president barack obama travel to west virginia today to pay tribute to the men killed in the mind tragedy. the president told the families of the miners who died that the nation will honor their memories by improving mine safety. >> mr. obama and vice president biden traveled to west virginia to honor those killed in the explosion. they met with the families of those whose lives have been

changed forever. they vowed that changes will be made. with president barack obama looking on, the families of the 29 collin miners -- fallen miners stepped forward. >> we have been morning with you throughout these difficult days. >> mr. obama says he will now do whatever he needs to to make sure something like this never happens again. >> we will do what we have to do it to make sure that there are safe conditions underground. [applause] >> the april this explosion is considered the worst mining disaster in a generation. the deceased miners were discovered deep underground. the year -- federal regulators believe the explosion was caused by a buildup of methane gas mixed with coal dust. >> in reviewing all safety procedures --

>> grieving families are pointing of fingers at the ceo of massey energy. >> i do not know how he can sleep at night knowing that the hundreds of people who work for him are in danger. >> it is now time to find answers. >> our hearts ache alongside you. >> this mine has been cited four times this year for improper ventilation. the president has ordered a broader review of coal mine safety records and is pushing for new, tougher laws to make minds saver. -- to make mines safer. >> the search continues for a man who robbed someone at gunpoint last night. he wore a hooded sweatshirt,

took a police officer posco money and ran off. the officer fired, but missed. police have identified the man who took a deadly fall from a building. police say he was standing on the route of an apartment with some friends and yesterday morning when he fell 100 ft. down a shaft. investigators believe it was an accident. a high school will be closed again tomorrow because of mercury contamination. all of the school buses are free up mercury. a teacher saw a student passing the toxic metal around the classroom last week. the school has been shut down since then. police are asking for help to find a missing teenager. she was last seen before is 7:00 a.m. last friday morning. she was last seen on the brandywine st.

anyone with information is asked to call police. coming up, thousands of people gather on the national mall to celebrate a birthday. and thousands take to the streets in arizona to protest a controversial new law. also ahead, new concerns from the gulf of mexico after the oil rig explosion. why the threat of

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>> you are watching abc 7 news at 630 -- on your side. >> the oil rig that exploded in the gulf of mexico is threatening to become a major ecological disaster. it is pouring a balance of a call into the water each day. we have more on the cleanup of the louisiana coast.

>> the deep water horizon oil creek lies nearly a mile beneath the surface of the gulf of mexico. it is seen to be leaking as much as 42,000 gal. of oil per day. species from louisiana to florida are being threatened. the brick exploded killing 11 workers. -- the rig exploded, killing 11 workers. it appeared to be unmanageable as bill at first. after the initial accident, authorities assured us that it was under control. however, this bill is now 25 times larger than it was a day earlier. the sensitive gulf ecosystem of shrimp, fish and coral is threatened, as are islands and

beaches from louisiana to florida. >> more angry protests in arizona over the tape -- over the state's tough new immigration laws. the law goes into effect this summer. it requires police to question anyone they suspect is in the country illegally. critics are planning to fight the measure in court. they call it a violation of civil rights. coming up, we are on a storm watch. we have been tracking the very latest on this severe thunderstorm. >> i am live on in the national mall where celebrities, musicians and activists are surrounding the stage. we will tell you what they

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>> up thousands of people gathered on the national mall today to celebrate earth day. they are hoping for comprehensive climate legislation. the rally petered a long list of celebrities, politicians -- the rally featured a long list of celebrities, politicians, and musicians. we have more on the story. >> any minute now we are expecting sting to take the stage. they are all here because they want americans to go green. what i plan to have kids some day and i want them to be living in a healthy environment. >> this climate rally was organized to send a message to lawmakers that climate change comes first, immigration at second. >> i cannot believe that a year

later after the house passed the bill, the senate has not even started reading it. >> expression was -- frustration was expressed against democrats and republicans. there was an interest in a new technologies from turbines to hybrid cars. >> they're giving us the miles that we want. >> speakers included the rev. jesse jackson and moviemaker james cameron, but the crowd seemed most excited by musicians, including john legend and sting. >> i remember a great sense of hope when we were starting in the 1970's. we know things are bad, now we will do something about it. >> for younger participants, birthday is more than a holiday.

>> it is every day. >> we are back here live on the national mall, again, expecting texting to come to the state at any minute. organizers say this whole event will be part in a neutral if not negative. they say it is all being powered by renewable energy. they are encouraging the crowd to recycle, use mass transit, and to buy carbon credits if necessary. >> the blizzard of 2010 is behind us, thank goodness. one county is making sure we do not have to have a snow-covered sidewalks during the next storm. they are passing a snow removal ordinance that would require homeowners and businesses to remove this note within 24 hours. if you do not, you could be fined. if the snow is less than 6 in.,

you will have at 36 hours to clear the sidewalk. >> we have thunderstorm warnings in effect right now. now that the sun is starting to set, you can see that the clouds are really beginning to develop. these give us the potential for some severe thunderstorms right into the district. do not leave items lose on the back patio or a front porch, because we could be looking at very gusty winds. the heaviest rain has started to fall in west virginia. in frederick, md., they have had over two and a half inches of rain. we have a flood warning in effect until 9:00 p.m. in frederick county maryland. the areas in the purple are all under thunderstorm warning.

in the next 45 minutes or so we should see montgomery county included. winds are moving at about 20 mi. per hour to 30 mi. per hour. storm-scan shows the effect of the severe thunderstorm watch. it goes until 11:00 p.m. tonight. areas shaded in orange include that severe thunderstorm warning. temperatures are in the 40's. an area of low pressure is going to move across during the overnight hours. what the what boxes as they update. again, a severe thunderstorm warning is in effect until 11:00 tonight. we are not out of the woods. eventually, this system will

move out. things look good in till -- things will look good in a couple of days. for tomorrow morning, temperatures will be in the 60's, daytime high in the upper- 60's. once again, we are looking at the possibility for thunderstorms in the afternoon. did i promise of better days ahead? well, we are going to get them. temperatures will warm up into the 60's even the 70's, and next week and is looking nice, around 80 degrees. keep in mind, there is a flood warning in effect in frederick county until 9:00 this evening. we will keep you updated throughout the night. >> the nationals say goodbye to l.a. with a nail biter.

we will have highlights and tell l.a. with a nail biter. we will have highlights and tell you how he doesn't have time for lost checks. he doesn't have budget to waste. but he does have digital currency. 38 states use visa pre-paid cards to deliver benefits to familieinstantly instead of mailing checks, saving taxpayers millions. this is nebraska. this is progress. visa. currency of progress.

>> the toyota sports desk, brought to you by your local toyota dealers-- moving you forward. >> how about the washington nationals? they continue to play a surprisingly solid baseball. they put another win in the column today against the dodgers. ground ball to short, over to second, over to the first -- over to first, over to second, a double play. what justin. the guy can run. the national's win. the top of the tent.

this guy was just called up this weekend. they hold out in the ninth and win. the capitals are back. they had practiced today in arlington. but coach increased intensity. friday was a head-scratcher and a disappointing loss. coach says, these guys have to be ready to give their all tomorrow night in montreal. >> i think it is important because it is important to play a good game. we are ready. we are sure the crowd will be ready. >> it was good to see eric back on the ice. it has been a couple of tough days for him. he took a shot to the mouth courtesy of a montreal player. he had to spend some time at the

dentist. he says his dentist is slowly putting him back together, but he will never forget the shot he took. >> i did not want to lose it, because i knew it was still good. he is going to put it back on probably in a week or so. >> that was his too. people thought that this guy it would be gone by today. their work. trade rumors. -- there were furious trade rumors. >> we were not shopping him. i don't know why that rumor got started. we know where albert stand and he knows where we stand. we look forward to having him have a productive season. >> high drama down the stretch

of the talladega super speedway. battling it out neck and neck until 8 win by a nose. -- a win by a nose. that is sport. s. >> can we talk about

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>> we have a severe thunderstorm warning in effect for just another three minutes or so. that will go in frederick county until 930 this evening.

then the clouds will clear and we will look for good temperatures and conditions by the end of the week.